PROGRAM

QuTech Academy course: Quantum communication and cryptography

Date:

Time:

15:45-17:45 (Tuesdays) and 8:45-10:45 (Fridays).

Location:

Lecture hall Chip, TU Delft, EWI, Mekelweg 4, Delft.

 

Course open for PhD students, postdocs and advanced Master students (CS4090). For more information about the QuTech Academy, please click here.

Lecturer: Stephanie Wehner

Expected prior knowledge: Linear Algebra, Probability & Statistics, Fundamentals of Quantum Information.

Time and place: 15:45-17:45 (Tuesdays) and 8:45-10:45 (Fridays), Lecture hall Chip, TU Delft, EWI, Mekelweg 4, Delft.

Dates: every Tuesday and every Friday from November 10th through December 18th.

Study points: 5 GSC

Description: Quantum communication offers unparalleled advantages over classical communication. Examples range from quantum key distribution that allows to the generation of secure encryption keys, improved clock synchronization on satellites, to the use of a quantum network to assemble small quantum computers into a larger quantum computing cluster. In this class, you will learn the fundamentals of quantum information theory and quantum cryptography. The goal of quantum information theory is to determine how we can best protect quantum information from errors. It forms a crucial tool for building quantum communication networks. You will also learn the core techniques of quantum cryptography, enabling you to understand and implement quantum key distribution, as well as make an entry into current research in this field.

Course Contents Contents:
- cq-states, distinguishing quantum states
- information gain vs. disturbance: the gentle measurement lemma
- encoding classical information into quantum states
- quantum data compression
- noisy quantum channels
- quantum error-correction for communication
- noisy channel coding: limits of sending classical information using quantum states: classical capacity, entanglement assisted capacity
- noisy channel coding: limits of sending quantum information: quantum capacity, entanglement cost, the decoupling theorem
- entanglement distillation
- finite size entropy measures: min and max entropies
- (quantum) randomness extraction
- quantum uncertainty and the monogamy of entanglement
- quantum key distribution (QKD)
Study Goals The student will acquire:
  • A good understanding of the fundamental concepts of quantum information theory
  • A good understanding of the essential tools in quantum cryptography
  • Insight into the differences between classical and quantum communication and cryptography
  • Skill set required to follow the remainder of the quantum curriculum (Q301 – Quantum hardware and Q401 – Quantum electronics)
Education Method Lectures and Tutorials
Literature and Study Materials Primary:
Lecture Notes

Auxilliary:
Nielsen and Chuang “Quantum computation and information”, Cambridge University Press.
Mark Wilde “Quantum information theory”, Cambridge University Press
Assessment 60% Homework assignments and presentation, 40% final exam